Here we are in the 21st century and thankfully, parents’ rights have come a long way since our moms were young. However, even though a lot of progress has been made, women still sometimes face challenges when it comes to balancing their jobs with their responsibilities as mothers.
If you are a working mother, you should be lucky enough to have a company that knows how important things like longer maternity leave, flexible hours and work at home are.
Being a working mom is tough. You have a lot of responsibilities, both at work and at home. And hopefully, you are getting paid a fair and equal wage for your work, in spite of your responsibilities to your family. Some companies are excellent at recognizing the needs of moms, while others still lag behind.
What are your rights at work, and how can you get them acknowledged?
Mothers who are pregnant or have just given birth often face a lot of pressure when it comes to returning to work. Some companies offer paid maternity leave, but others only offer unpaid leave. This can often mean that women have to use a combination of different types of leave to cover the time they need off, including sick days, vacation days and short-term disability.
Most workers are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for a birth or adoption. This is usually an unpaid leave, but your job is protected for this amount of time.
Some small businesses do not have to follow FMLA rules, so it’s important to find out your options for maternity leave early in your pregnancy, so you can plan accordingly.
Flexible hours are becoming more and more popular as companies try to accommodate all of their employees. Some jobs have flexible hours just by nature, and if you are a parent, this is to your advantage.
If your job does not offer flexible hours, you should talk to your manager to see if you can work more hours each day but fewer days or switch to a different shift. You might also be able to work on weekends, when your spouse is home to take care of the children.
Working from home is a great option for parents who want to be able to spend more time with their children. With all of the advances in communication, working from home is a reasonable option for many people. This enables you to be available to your child, and still complete your work.
Many companies allow their employees to work from home once or twice a week for a few hours, as long as the rest of their work is being done from home. If you have a great proposal for how working from home could work for you, talk to your employer about it. You might be surprised at how open they are to the idea.
Being a mother is a full-time job in and of itself, so it’s no surprise that working mothers have a lot on their plate. One issue that working mothers face is the gender pay gap. Although the situation is slowly changing, women often earn less than men for doing the same job.
As a working mother, it’s important to talk about your success and ask for pay raises and promotions when you think you deserve them. Although your company should pay you fairly for the work you do, sometimes it takes a little more effort to get the right compensation and recognition.
Getting your rights recognized at work can feel like a daunting task, but it’s important to remember that you have power too. Use your voice and don’t be afraid to speak up for what you believe in. If you have a well-thought-out request, your boss or employer will likely give it due consideration.
In the case of maternity leave, do your research ahead of time to find out what you’re entitled to. If you think your company might be violating the law, look up information online or consult with an employment lawyer. And most importantly, don’t assume that you can’t have what you want or need. Ask for it.
